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Hoover Tower

See the Stanford campus from the top of the Hoover Tower Observation Platform. Completed in 1941 to celebrate the University's 50th anniversary, the 285-foot tower is a landmark for students, alumni and the local community.

Visiting the Observation Platform

The observation platform is located on the 14th floor of Hoover Tower. When you step off the elevator be welcomed by a tour guide who is available to point out Stanford University landmarks and, on a clear day, sights around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Tower Trivia

At the top of the tower, visitors can see a carillon of 48 bells. The original 35 bells were cast of bronze in Tournai, Belgium, and were a gift of the Belgian-American Education Foundation. The largest bell of the original 35 is inscribed, "UNO PRO PACE SONO" which means "for peace alone do I ring."

Following a two-year refurbishment at the Royal Eijsbouts foundry in the Netherlands, the carillon returned to the tower in 2002. The restoration replaced eleven bells with newly cast ones and the addition of thirteen bells increased the instrument's range to four octaves. With a new keyboard and 48 bells tuned to concert pitch, the carillon makes beautiful music for special university events.

The lobby of the tower houses the Herbert Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover exhibits, which feature memorabilia from the careers and lives of the thirty-first U.S. president and his wife, both of whom were Stanford alumni.

Hoover Tower is part of the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, a Stanford-affiliated public policy research center founded by Herbert Hoover, a member of the University's pioneer class of 1895 and the 31st president of the United States.

ABOUT THE TOUR

2017 Costs

Adults $4.00

Seniors (65 and older) $3.00

Children (12 and under) $3.00
All children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18; no more than two children per adult.

Only cash is accepted.

Stanford students, faculty, and staff can bring up to 5 guests (with current Stanford photo ID) at no charge.

Schedule

Open 7 Days a week from 10am to 4:00pm
The following exceptions apply:

Observation deck and exhibits close at 4:00pm.

Last tickets sold at 3:30pm.

Reservations

No reservations required.

Individuals and groups may purchase tickets in the tower lobby.

Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets for $3 per person.

Restrictions

Please note that strollers, skateboards, and backpacks or large bags are not allowed on the platform, and cannot be stored in the Hoover Tower lobby.

If traveling to Hoover Tower by wheelchair, please be aware of the ongoing construction in the area until Summer 2017. Signage in the area will help guide visitors to step-free paths. For additional information please visit ADA building access for Hoover Tower.

Updated on January 5, 2017 1:31 PM

Announcements

Memorial Day and July 4th

The Stanford Visitor Center will be OPEN Saturday, May 26th, Sunday, May 27th and MEMORIAL DAY, Monday, May 28 from 10 am until 5 pm. Campus Walking Tours will be held at 11:30 am and 3:30 pm.
The Stanford Visitor Center will be CLOSED on Wednesday, July 4th.

Visitor Center offers Athletics Tour, coupled with chance to visit the new Home of Champions

In addition to our popular "Engineering Quad Tour" and "Humanities & Arts Tour," our Athletics and Recreational Opportunities Tour (10:30-11:15 & 2:30-3:15), is now offered most* Mondays and Fridays through March 16, and then will resume on Mondays and Fridays from April 13 through June 4. (The availability of this tour in the summer is minimal; any offerings will be posted two weeks prior to the tour date.)
This overview tour of Stanford Athletics highlights not only the breadth and achievements of Stanford's competitive teams, but also the many recreational opportunities for Stanford students at all levels, including varsity athletics, club sports, intramurals, classes, and personal recreation. Led by one of our student guides, the tour begins on the steps of the Ford Center (365 Galvez Street, behind the Office of Undergraduate Admission), and concludes outside the Arrillaga Family Sports Center, where you can then visit Stanford's brand new, state-of-the-art and interactive athletics facility "Home of Champions" for free.
(Note: Sorry, this tour does NOT provide entrance into Stanford Stadium or Maples Pavilion, and is not intended in any way as a tour for athletic recruits.)

Book your Summer Group Tour today!

We will be offering group tours (groups of 10 or more) at 10:30am and 2:30pm, Monday-Friday from July 5th through August 17th, 2018.See details

We will not accept additional dates and times due to availability of our staff. Reservations are required, so book ahead!
Please note that group tours over the summer are catered to educational groups (i.e., high schools and middle schools, community colleges, universities, exposure-to-college programs, etc.) and Stanford-sponsored groups.
If you are coming to campus with a group of 8 or fewer, you may join one of our Campus Walking Tours—no reservation is required.

Tour and Program Registration

Our tours and programs through August 31, 2018 are now posted for online registration. Additional program offerings may be added as scheduling availability allows. Offerings for programs in September and beyond will be posted on or before July 1, 2018.View Schedule and Register »

Time changes for Campus Walking Tours in 2018

Taking effect Monday, January 8, 2018, the starting times of the Stanford Visitor Center's two free daily walking tours of campus were changed to 11:30am and 3:30pm.See details

After decades of offering free daily walking tours of the Stanford campus at 11:00am and 3:15pm, we are updating the starting times for these tours to 11:30am and 3:30pm respectively. Based upon changes made last year to the University's overall time schedule for courses, this change will increase the availability of student guides to lead our tours and thus enable us to better serve our visitors. Tours will remain free and continue to last approximately 70 minutes.
Come visit us on The Farm!

Self-Guided Tours

Explore the campus at your own pace and learn more about Stanford's rich history, distinctive architecture, and notable landmarks.